big deer Franklin County Virginia

Here is a picture of a huge deer killed in Franklin County Virginia hardly a mile from my house a few days ago. It is a main frame 8 pointer, but I hear it had 16 counting all the smaller kickers. It's hard to count them from the pictures. This thing is a monster, and I hear it scored 216. Congrats to the hunter. That's one to be proud of.

It looks a lot like the same deer I have been seeing for a couple years around that area but I never could get him. If it is the same one he was pretty much nocturnal the last couple years it seemed to me. The one I saw came out only about an hour after dark on a pretty regular basis, and where he was coming from was difficult to get to.

fall foliage still lingering in Virginia

The brilliant colors of fall seem to be lingering a little longer this year than usual. I think this has been one of the prettiest years in recent memory here in Virginia as far as the colors go, and the length of time we are enjoying them. Here are a few pictures I took close to home this week.

Blue Ridge Parkway ride for the scenic fall foliage

Today we took our cruise down the parkway for the fall foliage. We try to do it every year, but missed it last year. We just took a short cruise this time on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Roanoke down to The Meadows of Dan. It's not a long ride but there are many lookovers to stop at and spend some time, along with Mabry's Mill and Otis's store along The Crooked Road. Otis was a nice fellow who greeted us when we entered with an offer of a cup of coffee. He has a little something for everyone in there.





The foliage was not as brilliant as I expected yet, and I don't think it has peaked yet. Later this week to this weekend I think will be better.